In episode 208, “The Seven Stages,” of Umbrella Academy, Five prepares for a desperate and dangerous plan where he has to rely on Luther to watch his back.
Meanwhile, Vanya is captured by the FBI, Diego goes through orientation at the Commission, & Allison and Klaus have to dispose of the dead Swede’s body.
This subpar episode merely serves as a setup episode for the final two installments for this season, so narrative-wise not much goes on, but there are still some noteworthy developments that deserve proper attention.
The Seven Stages of Paradox Psychosis
After Five’s plan to return everyone to 2019 in the previous episode expectedly fails, he comes up with a more desperate and dangerous plan that risks his very existence.
Five realizes that his older self (or younger, technically) is on assignment to ensure that JFK is assassinated, so Five wants to try to get the time-travel briefcase in the hands of his doppelganger. The only problem is that meeting your time-displaced self will cause a condition called “paradox psychosis,” which Five fears he could succumb to. Therefore, he has to rely on Luther to keep him on task, otherwise, the plan won’t work. He lists the symptoms of the condition to Luther as follows:
Denial
Itching
Extreme Thirst & Urination
Excessive Gas
Acute Paranoia
Uncontrolled Perspiration
Homicidal Rage
Sure enough, after finding Five’s doppelganger, both versions of himself begin exhibiting symptoms of paradox psychosis. Seeing both versions of Five profusely sweating and passing gas is equally hilarious and disgusting at the same time, which alone makes the episode worth a watch.
They grow increasingly suspicious of each other’s motives, but Luther actually does a decent job of mitigating between the two versions of his brother.
Not all is going well, however, as the Five who has the briefcase confides a simpler and seemingly sensible plan to Luther: for both of them to simply jump back to 2019 and “make nice” with Vanya to ensure that the original apocalypse from season 1 never happens.
Although this plan means erasing the other Five from existence, which seems to cause some moral dilemma for Luther. But he goes with it and the audience is left to wait for the aftermath in the following episode.
Vanya Is The Bomb (Again)
After getting arrested in the previous episode, Vanya is taken by the FBI and is interrogated and then tortured in this episode.
She is tricked into speaking Russian, which Vanya is surprised she can speak well, and she’s detained under the suspicion that she’s a Communist KGB agent.
Vanya is then drugged and strapped to an electric chair, which causes her to go into a comatose-like state where she hallucinates that she’s back at the Umbrella Academy with her siblings and their father at a dining table where they have a bizarre meal that consists of a raw brain.
The scene is gross, to say the least, but it serves as a metaphor for Vanya’s fractured psyche and foggy memory, which she seems to have deliberately suppressed if the manifestation of Reginald Hargreeves is to be taken for his words.
Back in the real world, Vanya is emanating a powerful glow that starts going nuclear, which endangers the FBI building as well as confirm some kind of connection to Harlan as the boy starts glowing as well when Vanya does.
Diego To The Rescue
Lila takes Diego to the Commission and introduces him to the Handler. After some grilling, he’s eventually allowed to start orientation to become an employee at the Commission, but Diego has other plans in mind.
He goes to the Infinite Switch Board to try and find a way to help his siblings in 1963. He has no clue what he’s doing until Herb the analyst shows up and assists him (after Diego threatens him with a knife).
They discover that Vanya inadvertently triggers the apocalypse again by causing an explosion that destroys the FBI building, which botches the JFK assassination allowing him to live and cause a nuclear war with the Soviets.
Diego is then introduced to “La Resistance,” a group of case managers working at the Commission who don’t want the Handler to lead the organization.
Herb then takes Diego back with him to 1963, at Ray Chestnut’s house, to meet back with Allison and Klaus to try and prevent Vanya from destroying the FBI building.
The episode ends with the siblings stopped at their tracks as Vanya, in her comatose state, continues to go nuclear.
Other Notes:
Grace investigates Reginald’s office (after Diego’s warnings) and finds shady plans related to the JFK assassination, she asks him to share everything but he refuses, so she dumps him.
The surviving Swede brother discovers that the Handler has tricked them with a fake order from the Commission– he detects a scent of lavender in the canister, which of course, he remembers smelling on the Handler when she confronted them in the steam room scene in episode 206.
Klaus, Ray, and Allison struggle to bury the dead Swede brother at Ray’s house.
Ben and Klaus discuss how each other felt during the possession. Klaus says it’s like “having sex with one of the lesser Baldwins,” while Ben says it’s like “having no skin, but still wanting to touch everything.” But Klaus revokes Ben’s possession privileges, which is a bit of shame because it was hilarious.
VERDICT: 7.5/10
The episode is entertaining enough, but nothing really happens to make it stand out as an episode. It does, however, set up the next episode well, and the scenes with Five particularly are worth watching for its comedic value.
Lorenz Bacani is a pop-culture enthusiast who's trying to watch as many good comic-book movies and TV shows as superhumanly possible.
He received a bachelor's degree in Journalism and New Media at California Baptist University. Wrote for a news tabloid, worked for a couple of non-profits, and dabbled in some photography (mostly for Instagram purposes).
He is probably currently binge-watching an old TV show for nostalgia.
Spanish drama Elite has been renewed for a fifth season at Netflix!
The news isn’t all that shocking considering the drama, set in the ritzy private school of Las Encinas in Spain, is one of the streamer’s best performing Spanish originals.
Not only is the cast incredible, the first few seasons were hinged around an intoxicating murder mystery and plenty of steamy love scenes.
It’s possible the series will return in the spring/summer of 2021.
The upcoming season will see a handful of familiar faces including Samu (Itzan Escamilla), Guzman (Miguel Bernardeau), Omar (Omar Ayuso), Rebeca (Claudia Salas), and Ander (Aron Piper) as they were held back due to their shenanigans. The drama will also welcome new students Manu Ríos , Carla Díaz , Martina Cariddi and Pol Granch to shake things up.
Deadline also reports that the fifth season has added Argentinan actress Valentina Zenere (Soy Luna) and Brazilan actor André Lamoglia (Juacas) to its cast.
2021 is flying by, and I have to credit the fact that there has been so much good television available!
Despite COVID-19 still holding a grasp on the world, plenty of our favorite TV shows were able to return to production and deliver outstanding seasons that are keeping us entertained every single day of the week.
March sees a return of some favorites on primetime along with some new additions to streaming.
Here’s everything to watch on March 2021:
TV
Debris – NBC (March 1)
Calling all sci-fi fans! Two international agents are tasked with investigating mysterious wreckage that falls from the sky. As British agent Finola Jones and American agent Bryan Beneventi lead the charge to track down all the debris scattered across the Western Hemisphere, they realize it’s a race against time!
The Voice – NBC (March 1)
The singing competition returns for season 20 with Blake Shelton, Nick Jonas, John Legend, and Kelly Clarkson at the helm!
Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell – Netflix (March 1)
The documentary on famed rapper The Notorious B.I.G. celebrates his life and tracks his journey to rap king alongside rare footage and in-depth interviews.
New Amsterdam – NBC (March 2)
With the pandemic still in full-swing, season 3 kicks off with a plane crash in the East River.
Wandavision – Disney Plus (March 5)
One of the longest episodes of the season marks the season finale of the series as it embarks into full MCU territory.
GoodGirls – NBC (March 7)
Your favorite suburban criminals are back for season 4! Beth, Ruby, and Annie continue their life of crime by pouring themselves into Boland Bubbles to wash money for “homeboy.” With the FBI hot on their trail, will they find a way to stay above water?
Station 19 and Grey’s Anatomy – ABC (March 11)
After going on hiatus in December, the Shondaland shows return with a crossover that tackles the issue of human trafficking.
A Million Little Things – ABC (March 11)
After a nearly three-month wait, A Million Little Things is finally getting new episodes and it’s going to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. Per the synopsis: “As [the virus] becomes more widespread across the U.S., Boston goes into lockdown putting Rome’s movie in jeopardy and forcing Maggie to return home from Oxford. Because the hospitals are overwhelmed with patients, Eddie’s back surgery is cancelled, leading him to take desperate measures to cope with the severe pain.
Love Alarm – Netflix (March 12)
The popular K-drama about an app that alerts people if someone in the area likes them returns for its second season on Netflix!
Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal – Netflix (March 17)
You’re familiar with the college bribery scandal that brought down Aunt Becky and other wealthy parents who stopped at nothing to get their children into top-tier universities. The documentary synopsis reads: “Using an innovative combination of interviews and narrative recreations of the FBI’s wiretapped conversations between Singer and his clients, Operation Varsity Blues offers a rare glimpse into the enigmatic figure behind a scheme that exposed the lengths wealthy families would go to for admission into elite colleges, and angered a nation already grappling with the effects of widespread inequality.”
Everything you’ve heard is true. But you haven’t heard everything. Using real conversations recreated from FBI wiretaps the filmmaker behind Fyre brings you Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal pic.twitter.com/kwsqTCSkqq
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier: Episode 1 and 2 – Disney Plus (March 19)
The highly-anticipated Marvel action series brings together Falcon and the Winter Soldier, who “team up for a global adventure that will test their survival skills — as well as their patience.” Starring Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan, the action picks up after the events of “Avengers: Endgame” with the first two episodes airing on the streamer on March 19 and March 26, respectively.
The Irregulars – Netflix (March 26)
The Sherlock Holmes spin-off series follows a group of “troubled street teens” who are wrapped into solving crimes and saving London from supernatural elements by the “sinister Doctor Watson.”
Pooch Perfect – ABC (March 30)
Pitch Perfect star Rebel Wilson is set to host this dog grooming reality competition that’s based on a UK competition of the same name (also hosted by Wilson). The episodes will spotlight 10 dog groomers around the country competing in challenges.
Comedic geniuses Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall reunite as Akeem and Semmi to take audiences back to Zamunda, the royal country made popular in the 80s. It’s worth the watch if only for nostalgia’s sake.
Raya and the Last Dragon – Disney Plus (March 5)
After being delayed the coronavirus pandemic, the film will finally debut months later. It’ll premiere simultaneously on Disney+ Premier Access and in theaters on the same day! Per the synopsis: ” Long ago, in the fantasy world of Kumandra, humans and dragons lived together in harmony. However, when sinister monsters known as the Druun threatened the land, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity. Now, 500 years later, those same monsters have returned, and it’s up to a lone warrior to track down the last dragon and stop the Druun for good.”
Moxie – Netflix (March 3)
Amy Poehler lends her talents to a second Netflix original about a shy 16-year-old who is inspired by her mom’s rebellious past and publishes an anonymous zine to tackle sexism inside the high school hallways.
Yes Day – Netflix (March 12)
Saying “no” to your kids can be difficult, so parents Allison (played by Jennifer Garner) and Carlos give their kids one day where they say “yes” to all their requests.
Paper Lives(Kağıttan Hayatlar) – Netflix (March 15)
The Turkish drama finds warehouse worker Mehmet (starring Çağatay Ulusoy) working in an impoverished neighborhood where he becomes responsible for a small boy.
It’s no secret that the cast of Schitt’s Creek genuinely likes each other.
It seems to be one of the few shows where there’s no bad blood or animosity between the cast, which speaks to their greatness.
The series, which swept the Emmys in 2020 and was nominated for five Golden Globes in 2021, is a bonafide hit as it provides plenty of laughs alongside heartfelt and even groundbreaking TV moments.
But after wrapping up its sixth and final season last year, many fans have found themselves wondering if that’s really it.
What are the chances of a spinoff, reboot, or movie? It’s not entirely out of the question yet.
Dan Levy, the show’s co-creator who also starred as David Rose, has hinted at the possibility.
Now, Emily Hampshire, who played deadpan receptionist and David’s eventual BFF, spoke with Good Morning America and weighed in with her thoughts.
“I cannot share any details, ’cause I want to do it and I wouldn’t be asked back,” she explained, which doesn’t exactly sound like a “no.”
“I would be down for all of that,” she continued. “Usually when you’re on a show you don’t want to spend another day with your entire cast and we did. We loved it — I would do anything with that group of people.”
She added that it felt “extra special” to end the series on such a high note.
“Even though none of us wanted to end, I was glad we were done because I would never want the pressure of going for another season after you’ve swept the Emmys, it’s all downhill from there,” she explained.
And something tells us, the brilliant minds of the Levy’s — Eugene and Dan — could come up with a good reason to return to the small or big screen.
For now, however, we have to settle for seeing Dan and Emily in their own respective Super Bowl commercials.
Dan is starring in the upcoming M&M’s commercial that will air during the big game, while Emily is set to appear in Cutwater Spirits’ upcoming and first 30-second Super Bowl Sunday spot.
Emily also imagined what each character’s go-to Super Bowl cocktail would be, and well, it’s eerily on-point.
“Stevie Budd would be a fan of the Long Island iced tea I would say, because of its dive-bar vibes. She might also like a spicy bloody Mary or two on a Sunday — that’s Stevie vibes,” she said.
“David would most likely go for anything with tequila — he would love the new mango marg ’cause he would just want to say ‘marg’ all the time,” she said in her best David Rose voice.
“Johnny is a classic man so he would love any mule — Alexis would love the vodka soda cause it’s like zero sugar, zero carbs — she’d probably also gravitate towards cucumber because it’s like fancy spa water, but with vodka.” Finally, she said O’Hara’s character would choose the Tiki Rum Mai Tai, “’cause I would make her just to hear her say it in her Moira Rose accent.”
